AUCTION BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 181, 2 August 1929, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

THE TEMPTATION OF GOING ON.

(By A. E. MANNING FOSTER.)

One of the most common mistakes at the bridge table —I see it almost every day—is to go on bidding a doubtful contract when you have the certain saving of the game if you arc content to leave the opponents in. I think the thing is largely temperamental. There arc many players who want to play the hand whenever they reasonably can, and sometimes when they can't. This may be based upon the knowledge that the playing of the joint hands is an advantage and is generally worth one trick, [ sometimes more, to the declarer. But more often it is based upon selfishness or ignorance in sizing up the trick-making value of the hand. Here is a case in point:—

Score: Game all. Z deals and bids "One No Trump"; A and Y "No bid." B "Two Spades." Z "Two No Trumps." All pass. (1) A opened King of Hearts, Y played the 3, B the 7 and Z the 2. (2) A then played 10 of Spades taken by Z. (3) Z led 9 of Clubs, A played 3 and B took the trick with the Jack. (4) B led a small Spade taken by Z. (5) Z led 6of Hearts, taken by A with the Queen. (G) A led a Club taken by B. (7 to 10) B led out four winning Spades. (11) B led winning Club. (12 and 13) Z wins these.

This hand was a real tragedy from the point ■of view of /, or rather,,perhaps I should say, from the point of view of Y, who was the silent sufferer throughout. Z's initial bid of "One No Trump" was thoroughly sound. But when B bid "Two Spades" Z should have been satisfied and should" have waited to see if his partner could speak. To bid "Two No Trumps" was bad. He likes the Spade bid. It was almost a certainty that B could not go game in it, and to call "Two No Trumps" was just a gamble. It is true the cards lay very badly for Z, but his play is open to criticism. 'After having passed the first Heart at trick 1 it was useless for him to lead a Heart at trick 5. He should, when he discovered Clubs were hopeless, have tried Diamonds. Nothing he could have done .would have saved the position, but he was unlucky on a good hand to make only four tricks.. RVnv I admit that it is very tempting to go on bidding a No Trumper against an adverse suit bul when one holds a double guard in it. One quite plausibly that if one does not go on it is certain partner will not be able to continue the No Trumper as he cannot have a guard in the suit. This is true enough. But it should bo remembered that partner may be able to make another bid, which will enable you to go on with the No Trumper. If he cannot, it is probable, although not, of course, absolutely certain, that you had better leave the suit bid in. Take this particular case. It was unlikely, after the two Spades bid that Y, if Z let it come round, could bid justifiably "Three Hearts" or '/Three Diamonds." But it was possible he could have bid 'Three Clubs," in which case Z would have been right to rebid No Trumps. Tho moral is: men you have a good thing lea,ye well alone; don't' go on bidding unnecessarily.